Antonio Pierce
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1978)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Antonio Pierce
| image = Antonio Pierce.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Pierce with the New York Giants in 2008
| current_team =
| number = 58
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|10|26|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Long Beach, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 238
| high_school = Paramount {{nowrap|(Paramount, California)}}
| college = {{ubl|Mt. San Antonio (1997–1998)|Arizona (1999–2000)}}
| undraftedyear = 2001
| pastteams =
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2001|2004}})
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2005|2009}})
| pastcoaching =
- Long Beach Poly HS (CA) (2014–2017)
Head coach - Arizona State (2018–2019)
Linebackers coach & recruiting coordinator - Arizona State (2020)
Associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, & recruiting coordinator - Arizona State (2021)
Associate head coach, defensive coordinator, & recruiting coordinator - Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2022}}–{{NFL Year|2023}})
Linebackers coach - Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2023}})
Interim head coach - Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2024}})
Head coach
| highlights = As player:
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 691
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 9
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 8
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 10
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 7
| statlabel6 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 2
| regular_record = {{Winning percentage|9|17|record=y}}
| playoff_record =
| overall_record = {{Winning percentage|9|17|record=y}} (NFL)
{{Winning percentage|31|15|record=y}} (high school)
| pfr = PierAn20
| pfrcoach = PierAn0
}}
Antonio Durran Pierce{{Cite web |title=Antonio Pierce Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PierAn20.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224170642/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PierAn20.htm |archive-date=December 24, 2007 |access-date=November 13, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}} (born October 26, 1978) is an American professional football coach and former linebacker. He served as the head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) in 2023 and 2024.
Pierce played nine seasons as a linebacker in the NFL and he won a Super Bowl playing with the New York Giants in the 2007 season. He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Redskins, and later played for the Giants. In 2014, Pierce began his coaching career as the head coach at Long Beach Polytechnic High School and then served as an assistant coach at Arizona State University from 2018 to 2021.
Early life
Pierce played high school football at Paramount High School in Paramount, California. As a senior for the Pirates, Pierce earned All-CIF Southern Section Division 2 accolades at linebacker while also playing at the fullback position.{{Cite news |date=December 29, 1995 |title=North's Claiborne Div. 4 player of year |work=Riverside Press-Enterprise |pages=F04}}{{Cite news |last=Irvine |first=Steve |date=December 29, 1995 |title=Four Jackrabbits Named All-CIF |work=Long Beach Press-Telegram |pages=D3}}
He then played two years of football at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California, before transferring to the University of Arizona. In the fall of 1997 as a sophomore, Pierce helped lead Mt. SAC to the CCCAA state title, intercepting a pass for the Mounties in the fourth quarter of a 38–35 win over San Francisco City College.{{Cite news |last=Dottore |first=Damian |date=December 14, 1997 |title=Mounties' defense rallies down stretch |work=The Orange County Register |pages=c15}}
As a senior at Arizona, he had three sacks, 77 tackles (ten for losses), two forced fumbles, one interception, and one blocked kick, earning All-Pac-10 honorable mention.{{Cite book |title=2023 Arizona Football Media Guide |publisher=University of Arizona Athletics |year=2023 |pages=68}}
Pierce was not taken in the 2001 NFL draft after his senior year because many NFL scouts considered him too undersized to play linebacker in the NFL.{{Cite news |last=DiTrani |first=Vinny |date=August 10, 2005 |title=Following Giant footsteps – Pierce wants to join Big Blue Dewil tradition of top linebackers |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-112015033.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026064108/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-112015033.html |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |work=Bergen County Record}}
Playing career
= Washington Redskins =
File:Vince Young 2007 Pro Bowl.jpg (#10) in the 2007 Pro Bowl]]
The Washington Redskins signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played in all 16 games as a rookie, with only eight starts. He recorded 52 tackles, one sack, and one interception during his rookie campaign. The interception came against Jake Plummer. Over the next two seasons, Pierce played sporadically, recording only 18 and 15 tackles respectively, during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
It was not until the 2004 season, his fourth in the league, that he played a full season, upon replacing the injured Micheal Barrow.{{Cite news |last=La Canfora |first=Jason |author-link=Jason La Canfora |date=November 14, 2004 |title=Redskins Provide a Home for NFL Castaways: Unheralded Journeymen Anchor the League's Top-Ranked Defense |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48098-2004Nov13.html |work=The Washington Post}} That season, Pierce logged a career-high 114 tackles, 95 of them solo. He also had one forced fumble, one sack, and two interceptions, including a pick off Ken Dorsey returned 76 yards for a touchdown.
= New York Giants =
The New York Giants signed Pierce on March 3, 2005, to start at middle linebacker. He became the captain of the defense, and in 13 games, Pierce notched 100 tackles, 80 of them solo, two interceptions, and one forced fumble returned for a touchdown. His 2005 season ended early as he suffered a leg injury, against the Philadelphia Eagles, and missed the final three regular season games as well as the Giants' only postseason game, a 23–0 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
In 2006, Pierce recorded a career-high 138 tackles (109 solo), a sack, an interception, and defended eight passes. Pierce was named as a first alternate for the Pro Bowl. He was invited to play in Hawaii after Brian Urlacher suffered a toe injury in Super Bowl XLI, and withdrew from the Pro Bowl.
In the 2007 season, Pierce was a central figure in the Giants' path to their third Super Bowl title. He made a key tackle in the first half of the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers, stopping running back Brandon Jackson on a screen pass on 3rd and 8,{{Cite web |title=YouTube | website=YouTube | date=February 11, 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUnnW3DkaCk}} saving a touchdown and forcing the Packers to settle for a field goal instead. The Giants would go on to win in overtime.{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship – New York Giants at Green Bay Packers – January 20th, 2008 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200801200gnb.htm |access-date=November 13, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}
== Plaxico Burress Shooting Incident ==
On the early morning hours of November 9, 2008, at a night club in New York City, Plaxico Burress accidentally discharged an unlicensed gun in his pocket, injuring his thigh.{{Cite news |last=Branch |first=John |date=November 29, 2008 |title=Plaxico Burress Shoots Himself Accidentally |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/sports/football/30burress.html |access-date=May 19, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} No one called the police, which is required by New York law when a gunshot accident occurs. Pierce helped Burress and rushed him to a nearby hospital to tend to his injury. Pierce was then [https://www.recordonline.com/story/sports/nfl/2008/12/06/giants-pierce-speaks-to-police/52172856007/ sought by the NYPD for questioning] as it is against New York law not to report a shooting, which Pierce or anyone else in attendance did not do. Eventually, Pierce talked to the police and did not face charges{{Cite news |last=Lapointe |first=Joe |date=August 4, 2009 |title=Giants' Pierce Is Relieved Not to Have Been Indicted |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/sports/football/05pierce.html |access-date=May 19, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} in the incident, also reiterating he [https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4376265 didn't have any regrets] for how he handled the incident.
Pierce was released by the team on February 11, 2010.
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2001 | WAS
| 16 || 8 || 53 || 44 || 9 || 1.0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2002 | WAS
| 8 || 1 || 18 || 13 || 5 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2003 | WAS
| 15 || 0 || 15 || 14 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2004 | WAS
| 16 || 16 || 114 || 87 || 27 || 1.0 || 3 || 2 || 94 || 1 || 78 || 5 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2005 | NYG
| 13 || 13 || 100 || 80 || 20 || 2.5 || 7 || 2 || 41 || 0 || 24 || 11 || 1 || 2 || 12 || 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2006 | NYG
| 16 || 16 || 139 || 109 || 30 || 1.0 || 10 || 1 || 6 || 0 || 6 || 9 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2007 | NYG
| 16 || 16 || 102 || 76 || 26 || 1.0 || 8 || 1 || 28 || 0 || 28 || 8 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2008 | NYG
| 15 || 15 || 95 || 72 || 23 || 1.5 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2009 | NYG
| 9 || 9 || 55 || 40 || 15 || 1.0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 1 || 3 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 124 | 94 | 691 | 535 | 156 | 9.0 | 39 | 7 | 169 | 1 | 78 | 43 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 1 |
=Playoffs=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2006 | NYG
| 1 || 1 || 7 || 5 || 2 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2007 | NYG
| 4 || 4 || 25 || 22 || 3 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2008 | NYG
| 1 || 1 || 10 || 7 || 3 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 6 | 6 | 42 | 34 | 8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
= Retirement =
Following his release, Pierce announced his retirement from football on July 8, 2010. He also stated that he would then begin his career as an NFL analyst for ESPN.{{Cite news |last=Leahy |first=Sean |date=July 8, 2010 |title=Ex-New York Giants LB Antonio Pierce retires, joins ESPN as NFL analyst |url=https://www.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/Index |access-date=July 8, 2010 |work=USA Today}}
Coaching career
=High school=
On February 7, 2014, Pierce was named the head coach at national powerhouse Long Beach Polytechnic High School, replacing Raul Lara, who stepped down as the head coach of the program after 13 seasons.{{Cite web |last=Irving |first=Kyle |date=November 12, 2023 |title=Antonio Pierce high school: The story of Long Beach Poly's 99–9 win under new Raiders interim coach |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/antonio-pierce-high-school-long-beach-poly/a90bce310d1841805a9b184d |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Sporting News}} After an 11–2 first season, the Jackrabbits struggled under Pierce, missing the playoffs for the first time in 36 years in his second season at the helm. The struggles continued in 2016 and 2017, with the program failing to reach double digit wins in both years and getting blown out in the playoffs.
=Arizona State=
On December 21, 2017, Pierce announced his resignation as head coach and was named linebackers coach at Arizona State University. After two seasons as the Sun Devils' linebackers coach, Pierce was promoted to co-defensive coordinator alongside Marvin Lewis.{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2020 |title=Sun Devil Football's Marvin Lewis and Antonio Pierce Named Co-defensive Coordinators, as well as Recruiting Coordinator and Associate head coach. |url=https://thesundevils.com/news/2020/2/4/sun-devil-footballs-marvin-lewis-and-antonio-pierce-named-co-defensive-coordinators.aspx |access-date=February 4, 2020 |work=Arizona State Sun Devils}} On January 20, 2021, Pierce was elevated to be the sole defensive coordinator at ASU after sharing the role with Marvin Lewis during the 2020 season.{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Michelle |date=January 20, 2021 |title=Antonio Pierce elevated to sole defensive coordinator at ASU |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2021/01/20/asu-football-antonio-pierce-elevated-sole-defensive-coordinator/4237849001/ |access-date=January 29, 2021 |work=Arizona Republic}} He resigned during an NCAA recruiting violation investigation prior to 2022 season.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Jake |date=February 3, 2022 |title=Timeline: ASU football fallout amid investigation into recruiting violations |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/2996966/timeline-asu-football-fallout-amid-investigation-into-recruiting-violations/ |access-date=November 1, 2023 |work=Arizona Sports}} In August 2023, ASU announced a self-imposed bowl ban, hoping to lessen further penalties resulting from the ongoing investigation.{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Arizona State football defends self-imposed bowl ban |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3532711/arizona-state-football-defends-self-imposed-bowl-ban/ |access-date=November 6, 2023 |work=Arizona Sports}}
==NCAA suspension==
Following Pierce's resignation, the NCAA investigation continued, eventually determining that Pierce was the, "ringleader in orchestrating the recruiting violations" at ASU, and that Pierce, "used his position of authority to pressure staff members into engaging in violations, often by instilling fear that they would lose their jobs if they did not follow his orders".{{Cite web |date=2024-10-03 |title=NCAA penalizes Raiders' Pierce for ASU violations |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/41588590/antonio-pierce-gets-show-cause-penalty-arizona-st-violations |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} This included ordering an assistant to commit recruiting tampering to attempt to land a transfer not in the transfer portal, and refusing to cooperate with the investigation.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-04 |title=Why did Antonio Pierce get one of the biggest NCAA show-cause penalties ever? |url=https://www.si.com/college/arizonastate/football/why-did-antonio-pierce-get-one-of-the-longest-ncaa-show-cause-penalties-ever-01j9bz8hvb7s |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Arizona State Sun Devils On SI |language=en-US}} Pierce's actions were described as a "scheme" and involved Pierce taking individuals to a gentleman's club as part of recruiting visits.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-03 |title=NCAA gives Raiders' Antonio Pierce eight-year show-cause stemming from Arizona State recruiting violations |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ncaa-gives-raiders-antonio-pierce-eight-year-show-cause-stemming-from-arizona-state-recruiting-violations/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} The NCAA levied an 8 year show-cause penalty against Pierce; should an NCAA school hire Pierce prior to 2032, he would serve a yearlong suspension.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-03 |title=Former Arizona State football associate head coach, noncoaching staff member violated recruiting rules |url=https://www.ncaa.org/news/2024/10/3/media-center-former-arizona-state-football-associate-head-coach-noncoaching-staff-member-violated-recruiting-rules.aspx |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=NCAA.org |language=en}} In a statement regarding the penalties, ASU president Michael M. Crow declared the university to be, "disappointed and embarrassed by the actions of certain former football staff members who took advantage of a global pandemic to hide their behavior."{{Cite web |title=NCAA releases decision on ASU football, Antonio Pierce recruiting violations - The Arizona State Press |url=https://www.statepress.com/article/2024/10/asu-pierce-ncaa-violations |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=www.statepress.com |language=en-US}}
=Las Vegas Raiders=
{{update section|date=December 2024}}
In 2022, Pierce was hired by the Las Vegas Raiders as their linebackers coach under head coach Josh McDaniels.{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Ben |date=February 14, 2022 |title=Raiders To Hire Antonio Pierce As LB Coach |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2022/02/raiders-to-hire-antonio-pierce-as-lb-coach |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Pro Football Rumors}}
On October 31, 2023, Pierce was named the interim head coach of the Raiders following the firing of head coach Josh McDaniels.{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Raiders name Antonio Pierce as Interim Head Coach |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-name-antonio-pierce-as-interim-head-coach |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=Raiders.com}} He named Aidan O'Connell as the starting quarterback for the rest of the season on November 1, benching Jimmy Garoppolo.{{cite web | last=Weiss | first=Brad | title=Raiders turning to Aidan O'Connell is the right move in 2023 and possibly beyond | work=Just Blog Baby | date=November 1, 2023 | url=https://justblogbaby.com/posts/raiders-turning-aidan-o-connell-right-move-2023-possibly-beyond-01he5rd20wgj | access-date=July 22, 2024}} On November 5, 2023, Pierce made his head coaching debut against the New York Giants, for whom he had previously played. The Raiders won the game 30–6, a season high in points for the Raiders at that point{{Cite web |date=November 5, 2023 |title=Giants vs. Raiders – Box Score – November 5, 2023 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401547521 |access-date=November 5, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}
File:Antonio Pierce with Matthew Butler.png]]
On December 14, 2023, the Raiders defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 63–21, scoring the most points in franchise history.{{cite web | last=Edwards | first=Levi | title='It's going to be hard to break': The Raiders' record-breaking 63-point game stands firmly in the city of Las Vegas | website=Las Vegas Raiders | date=2024-01-03 | url=https://www.raiders.com/news/the-raiders-franchise-record-breaking-63-point-game-stands-in-las-vegas#:~:text=The%2063%20points%2C%20with%2014,regular-season%20game%20since%201970. | access-date=2024-12-31}} A week later, on Christmas Day, the Raiders recorded their first win over the Kansas City Chiefs since 2020.{{cite web | last=Simmons | first=Myles | title=Raiders upset Chiefs 20-14 on Christmas Day |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/raiders-upset-chiefs-20-14-on-christmas-day |work=NBC Sports |date=2023-12-25 | access-date=2024-12-31}}
The Raiders were eliminated from playoff contention on New Year's Eve, following a 23–20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
On January 19, 2024, the Raiders officially named Pierce the 23rd head coach in franchise history.{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2024 |title=Antonio Pierce named Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/antonio-pierce-named-head-coach-of-the-las-vegas-raiders-01-19-24 |access-date=January 19, 2024 |website=Raiders.com}}
On January 7, 2025, Pierce was fired by the Raiders, after finishing 4–13 in 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/the-las-vegas-raiders-relieve-antonio-pierce-head-coach|title=The Las Vegas Raiders relieve Antonio Pierce of his duties|publisher=Las Vegas Raiders|date=January 7, 2025|accessdate=January 7, 2025}} Pierce finished his tenure in Las Vegas with a 9–17 (.346) record.
Head coaching record
=High school=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits
| conf =
| startyear = 2014
| endyear = 2017
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2014
| name = Long Beach Poly
| overall = 11–2
| conference = 6–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2015
| name = Long Beach Poly
| overall = 4–6
| conference = 3–3
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2016
| name = Long Beach Poly
| overall = 7–4
| conference = 6–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2017
| name = Long Beach Poly
| overall = 9–3
| conference = 6–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Long Beach Poly
| overall = 31–15
| confrecord = 21–3
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 31–15
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
}}
=NFL=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Team | rowspan="2"|Year | colspan="5"|Regular season | colspan="4"|Postseason | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result |
| LV*||2023
|| 5 || 4 || 0 || {{winpct|5|4}} || 2nd in AFC West || — || — || — || — | ||||||||
| LV||2024
|| 4 || 13 || 0 || {{winpct|4|13}} || 4th in AFC West || — || — || — || — | ||||||||
| colspan="2"|Total || 9 || 17 || 0 || {{winpct|9|17}} || || 0 || 0 || .000 || |
Personal life
Pierce is married to Jocelyn and is the father of seven. He currently resides in Palos Verdes Estates, California. His father, Cleo Burrows, is from Bermuda.
Inspired by his own experiences growing up in Compton, it has become Pierce's mission to improve the quality of life for the youth in the Long Beach/Compton area. For several years, Pierce has offered a free football camp for underprivileged youths.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}}
In 2006, Pierce became the spokesperson for Giants Academy—a program for inner city youth geared toward helping these children succeed despite obstacles in their life. He is also involved in the "Read Across America" program where he reads to children whose parents are undergoing treatment for chemical dependency at the Odyssey House in Harlem.{{Cite web |title=Antonio Pierce |url=https://mtsacfoundation.org/alumni-of-the-year/antonio-pierce |access-date=December 10, 2023 |website=mtsacfoundation.org |date=July 16, 2018 |publisher=The Mt. SAC Foundation & Alumni Association}}
In 2007, Pierce received the "United Way Man of the Year" award and was honored by the Catholic Diocese for his support of the community.
Pierce was honored at the 2008 ESPY awards along with the Giants.
=Plaxico Burress incident=
Pierce was present when teammate Plaxico Burress negligently shot himself in the thigh at the Latin Quarter Night Club in New York City on November 28, 2008.{{Cite news |last=Branch |first=John |date=November 30, 2008 |title=Giants' Burress Shoots Himself Accidentally in Thigh |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/sports/football/30burress.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210010955/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/sports/football/30burress.html |archive-date=December 10, 2008 |access-date=November 30, 2008 |work=The New York Times}} Police say that Pierce drove Burress to the hospital and then returned home with the gun in the glove compartment of his car. The police impounded Pierce's SUV to search for blood and gunpowder residue.{{Cite news |title=Giants Put an End to Burress' season |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/12/02/burress.ap/index.html?eref=T1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206064648/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/12/02/burress.ap/index.html?eref=T1 |archive-date=December 6, 2008 |access-date=December 3, 2008 |work=CNN}} Burress was charged with, and ultimately pleaded guilty to, criminal possession of a weapon; however Pierce was not indicted on any charges. On August 3, 2009, Pierce was cleared of all criminal charges stemming from the incident.{{Cite web |title=Reference at sports.yahoo.com |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=ArMBUTF84ShoIUQFLjsB4HtDubYF?slug=ap-giants-pierce&prov=ap&type=lgns}} He was represented in the matter by notable NYC criminal defense attorney, Michael F. Bachner.{{Cite news |last=Schwartz |first=Paul |date=December 4, 2008 |title=Lawyer: Pierce Didn't Know About Gun |url=https://nypost.com/2008/12/04/lawyer-pierce-didnt-know-about-gun/ |access-date=June 13, 2017 |work=The NY Post |publisher=NYP Holdings Inc |agency=News Corp}}
=Broadcasting=
Pierce served as a communications intern on The Howard Stern Show on May 7, 2008. He stated he would like to pursue a career in broadcasting after his NFL career.{{Cite web |title=The Howard Stern Show for May 7, 2008 |url=http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?d=1210132800 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514151631/http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?d=1210132800 |archive-date=May 14, 2008 |access-date=May 7, 2008}} Near the end of the day's show he asked to stay for the remainder of the week, which Stern agreed to.{{Cite web |title=Antonio Pierce interns for Stern, says Michael Strahan is done | work=Yahoo Sports |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Antonio-Pierce-interns-for-Stern-says-Michael-S?urn=nfl,81209 |access-date=July 8, 2010 |publisher=Yahoo! Sports}}
See also
{{Portal|Biography}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/PierAn0.htm Coaching statistics] at Pro Football Reference
- {{IMDb name|2108614}}
{{Las Vegas Raiders coach navbox}}
{{Super Bowl XLII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pierce, Antonio}}
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